Reflector for display cases



March 17, 1939. C F, HOFFMAN J 2,149,769

REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES .Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-sheaf l g ,2 K5a; /5 /.f- (a 7 Match 7, 1939, c HOFFMAN- 2,149,769

REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASES Filed Nov. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. I

Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES E f E REFLECTOR FOR DISPLAY CASESApplication November 4, 1937, Serial No. 172,851

2 Claims.

This invention relates to reflectors for illuminated display cases ofthat type in which a reflector is positioned longitudinally at the topof the front of the case to house and conceal illuminating means and toreflect the light downwardly therefrom and into the casethrough thefront transparent panel thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means fordetachably securing the reflector in place so that it may be readilyremoved when required to allow convenient cleaning of the reflector orlamps, repairs of the reflector or supporting parts and replacement ofburned out or defective lamps, also to admit of the easy application andremoval of lamps of any type desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide reflector supportingmeans allowing circulation of cool air between the reflector and thecase and which will hold the reflector out of direct contact with thecase to prevent heat transmission from the reflector to the case.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed,,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a show case provided with a reflector andlamp and reflector supporting means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 2-2 of Fig. 1through the reflector and a portion of the display case, showing thereflector secured in position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the locking strip bent backto release the reflector for removal. I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing the retaining memberfitted in position to hold the clamping washer spaced from the bracketplate to facilitate removal of the reflector.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6, Figure 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a view of the retaining member.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed forexemplification, I designates the top and 2 the front of a refrigeratoror other display case, the top as shown having a metallic top plate 3and the front being provided with glass panels 4 arranged one in rear ofthe other and providing a dead air or insulating space therebetween. Thetopplate 3 terminates in a forward upwardly directed rim edge 5.

Secured to the top of the show case at the front thereof above the glasspanels are supporting brackets'fi arranged'in suitably spaced relationlongitudinally of the front of the display case. Each of these bracketshas a fastening arm 1 suitably secured to the top of the case and asupporting arm 8, the latter-named arm being arranged a short distancein advance of the front of the case and parallel therewith, or at thesame angle of inclination as the front of the show case- The fasteningarms of these brackets may have flanged upper ends 9 extending into andreinforcing the rim portions 5 of the top plate 3. The brackets formsupports for a small inner reflector l and have a lamp wire conduit 1 land sockets E2 to receive the illuminating lamps l3, which are disposedat desired distances apart across the front of the display case. Theseparts are enclosed or housed by the outer or main reflector l4, andpreferably the undersurface of the end reflector l9 and the innersurface of the enclosing reflector I l are coated or covered with alightabsorbing paint or material which will prevent bands of light from thelamps being reflected to and centered in the polished surface of theglass panel.

The reflector M is of concavo-convex form or of a generally arcuatecurvature between its upper and lower edges and may be made of metal orother suitable material and have a finished outer surface. It isprovided at its upper edge with a 'downturned flange l which overhangsthe rim 5 of the top plate 3 and is disposed in spaced relation theretoto provide an intervening air space or passage it. The reflector i4 isdisposed in spaced relation to the front of the show case and to theinner reflector l6, and in this inner reflector H) are providedperforations or air passages I'd, allowing cool air to circulateupwardly through the reflectors and out at the space It to keep thereflectors and bracket elements cool and to prevent transmission of heatfrom the lamps to the glass panels and the top of the display case. Theparts of the brackets and main reflector are also maintained out ofcontact with the top plate 3 to prevent transmission of heat directlyfrom the former to the latter. I

The bracket plates 8 are provided each with a forwardly projectingsupporting and fastening stud l8 and the reflector l4 carries a bracketplate l9 having an opening of key-hole shape therein for cooperationwith the stud, the elongated portion of the opening being upwardlydirected. Each of these bracket plates I9 is fastened in any suitableand secure manner to the upper and lower edges of the reflector M insuch position as to lie in contact with the coacting racket arm 8 whenthe reflector I4 is in applied position.

The reflector I4 is adapted to be applied to the bracket plates 8 bydisposing it so as to bring the circular portions of the openings 20into alinement with the studs 18 and then moving the reflector towardthe front of the display case until the bracket plates l9 abut againstthe bracket arms 8, after which by downward movement of the reflector I4in a plane parallel with the front of the display case the studs arebrought into fastening-position within the narrow upper elongatedportions of the openings 20. To release the reflector I4 from thebracket arms 8, the reverse movement is imparted thereto, that is tosay, the reflector I4 is shifted upwardly to bring the studs I8 from thenarrow elongated portions of the openings down into the circularportions of said openings, and then removing the reflector outwardly oraway from the front of the show case so as to clear the studs I8.

Fitted on each stud I8 is an outer retaining washer 2| and an innerclamping'head or washer 22. A coiled spring 23 surrounds the studbetween these washers and normally holds them pressed apart, the washer2| being held from displacement by a cotter pin or key 24. These washersare of sufficient diameter to bridge across the elongated portion of theopening 20 but of sufficiently small diameter to pass through thecircular portion of the opening, so as to allow the bracket plate I9 tobe fitted over upon and removed from the studs when the reflector I 4 isin proper position for application and removal. When the reflector I4 isin applied position the clamping head or washer of each stud bearsagainst the bracket members IS on the reflector M and clamps saidbracket members I9 to the bracket members 8, thus holding the reflectorI l securely in position against casual displacement.

In order to prevent any possibility of the reflector I l beingaccidentally displaced by upward movement a locking member is preferably provided. This conveniently may assume the form of a strip ofbendable sheet metal fastened permanently at its lower end to thebracket plate I9 and provided at its upper or free end with a bentportion or flange 26 forming a head to bear against the washer 22 whenthe latter is in clamping position and also forming a finger piece bywhich said locking strip may be readily manipulated. When the strips 25are in look ing position they hold the reflector I4 from upward orshifting movement on the bracket arms 8, but by bending the lockingmembers outwardly as shown in Fig. 4 they may be removed from the pathof the studs to allow the reflector I 4 to be shifted for removal in anobvious manner. The locking strips are preferably made of a metal whichmay be repeatedly bent without liability of fracture so that they may beemployed without renewal for an indefinite period.

In order to enable the reflector I 4 to be removed with greatconvenience, and without interference from the washer 22 and spring 23,it is desirable to provide a means for holding the washer 22 in releasedposition and the spring 23 in compressed condition during the releasingaction, as well as during a subsequent re-application of the reflector.To this end I provide a retainer in the form of a U-shaped member 21 oneof which may be slipped into position about each stud between eachbracket plate 8 and coacting bracket plate I9, to hold the washer 22spaced from the bracket plate 8 and the spring 23 compressed, as shownin Fig. 5,'so as to permit convenient up and down sliding movements andinward and outward movements of the bracket plates I9 during releasingand applying actions, as will be readily understood. These members 21may be removed by forcing them out of position when the reflector I4 isfltted in place on the studs and about to be slid downwardly to bringthe studs into engagement with the elongated portions of the openings20, or the structure may be such that the members 21 will beautomatically displaced on this part of the applying movement of thereflector I4.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by the construction of thesupporting brackets and clamping means described the reflector M may bereadily applied for use when desired and removed whenever it is desiredto clean the surfaces of the reflectors or repair the reflectors orparts of the supporting means or to make changes in the wiringconnections or to replace worn out or defective lamps. When thereflector is applied it will be securely and yieldingly clamped inposition against chattering movement and held firmly against possibilityof casual displacement, while at the same time through the constructiondescribed a current of air is allowed to flow between the front of thecase and the reflector I 4 and about the lamps and brackets to keep thesame cool and present the transmission of heat through these parts toany portion of the display case.

While the construction shown and described herein is prefered, it will,of course, be understood that changes in the form, details ofconstruction and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scopeof the appended claims, without departing from thespirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is: V

1. In means for detachably connecting a reflector with a display case,bracket members on the display case having fastening arms disposed inadvance of and lying parallel with the plane of the front of the case, aperforate inside reflector carried by said bracket members, illuminatingmeans carried by said bracket members, a concavo-convex main reflectorlying outside of and partially enclosing said illuminating means andinside reflector, bracket members on the main reflector, and means forholding said bracket members, detachably connected and maintaining themain reflector in spaced relation to the display case to provide for theflow of a current of air between the reflector and case.

2. The combination with a display case having a top portion providedwith an upstanding front rim edge, of bracket members on the front ofthe display case having supporting portions lying in advance of said rimedge, illuminating means carried by said bracket members including an inner stationary reflector arranged to reflect light from the illuminatingmeans at an outward and downward angle with relation to the front of thedisplay case and provided with air passages therein, a main reflectordisposed in front of the illuminating means and inner stationaryreflector and having bracket members for engagement with the supportingportions of the first-named bracket members, and fastening members forinterlocking said bracket members together, said main reflector havingan upper edge portion disposed in spaced relation to the rim edge of thetop plate to provide an air passage therebetween when said reflector issupported in position by the bracket members.

' CYRUS F. HOFFMAN.

